• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.59-62
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• 1980

Investigation on modification of aflatoxin structures by Pseudomonads was attempted as a biological detoxifiying process of mycotoxins. Firstly, when any variation of aflatoxin yield of Aspergillus parasiticus in a mixed culture with Pseudomonas aeruginosa was examined, there was no noticible effect by growth of Pseudomonads on aflatoxin yield of Asperillus sp. Secondly, when capacity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa utilizing aflatoxin as a carbon source for its growth was tested, there was some indication that aflatoxin might be used for growth of Pseudomonads. It was also noticed that the residual aflatoxin showed different migrating pattern compared with that of the intact aflatoxin by thin layer chromatography. Thirdly, the cell-free extract prepared from Pseudomonas aeruginosa grown in a glucose minimal medium supplemented with aflatoxin and the intact aflatoxins were incubated in the presence of $Mg^{++}$. After a certain length of incubation period, the reaction mixtures were applied on TLC plates. As a result, aflatoxins in the reaction mixture migrated differently as the control did. Such results may indicate that some changes of aflatoxin properties were induced by Pseudomonads.

• Mycobiology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.47-53
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• 2007

The prevalence and population density of the mycobiota of 50 samples belonging to 10 kinds of spices (anise, black pepper, red pepper, black cumin, peppermint, cardamom, clove, cumin, ginger and marjoram) which collected from different places in Jeddah Governorate were studied. The natural occurrence of mycotoxins in those samples was also investigated. Fifteen genera and thirty-one species of fungi in addition to one species variety were isolated and identified during this study. The most common genera were Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium. Aflatoxins ($12{\sim}40\;{\mu}g/kg$) were detected in the extract of 5 samples of each of anise seeds and black pepper fruits; three samples of black cumin seeds and on sample only of each of peppermint and marjoram leaves out of 5 samples tested of each. Sterigmatocystin ($15{\sim}20\;{\mu}g/kg$) was detected in some samples of red pepper, cumin and marjoram. The inhibitory effects of 10 kinds of powdered spices were tested against 3 toxigenic isolates of fungi (Aspergillus flavus, A. versicolor and Penicillium citrinum). Clove proved to be antimycotic compounds. It inhibited the growth of the tested toxigenic fungi. Black pepper, peppermint, cardamom, cumin and marjoram completely inhibited aflatoxins production, while black pepper and cardamom also completely inhibited sterigmatocystin production.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.108-112
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• 2008

A survey of total aflatoxin levels was conducted on 158 samples (nuts, fermented foods and their processed products) collected in local markets in Gyeonggi-do and Domestic Internet Site. The total aflatoxins were quantified by the immunoaffinity column clean-up method followed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-fluorescence detector (FLD). Aflatoxins were found in 45(28.5%) samples including 34 nuts and nut products, 7 soybean pastes, 1 meju, 1 bean product and 2 corn snacks with a range of $0.02{\sim}3.96\;{\mu}g/kg$. These results show that the contamination level of aflatoxin in foods consumed in Korea is low compared with the standard in Korea Food Code($10\;{\mu}g/kg$ as aflatoxin $B_1$). Aflatoxin $B_1$ content was increased in peanuts and com snacks during storage but it was decreased in doenjang (soybean paste).

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.76-81
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• 2006

We optimized conditions of extract solvents and elution solvents for total aflatoxins in foods using HPLC/FLD. The extract solvent was 70% methanol solution including 1% NaCl and the 3 mL of acetonitrile was used as elution solvent using immnuoaffinity column. The detection limits (LOD) was 0.05 ng/g. The recoveries for total aflatoxins ($B_1,\;B_2,\;G_1\;and\;G_2$) studied in foods were cereals ($74.1{\sim}95.5%,\;83.7{\sim}98.8%,\;80.4{\sim}102.4%,\;72.8{\sim}76.5%$), pulses ($85.8{\sim}87.5%,\;83.8{\sim}90.7%,\;92.0{\sim}94.5%,\;60.6{\sim}65.6%$), nuts ($84.6{\sim}97.1%,\;86.0{\sim}94.1%,\;95.5{\sim}111.5%,\;71.0{\sim}89.9%$), processed foods ($81.5{\sim}87.1%,\;82.8{\sim}85.8%,\;85.4{\sim}92.7%,\;68.9{\sim}76.4%$), dried fruits ($83.6{\sim}93.5%,\;78.1{\sim}90.4%,\;93.0{\sim}108.5%,\;64.9{\sim}78.5%$) and other foods ($72.5{\sim}98.3%,\;73.1{\sim}96.4%,\;83.5{\sim}107.2%,\;64.2{\sim}75.8%$), respectively.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.288-294
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• 1986

The effects of ginseng saponin and its related materials on aflatoxin production by Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL2999 in yeast extract sucrose (YES) medium were studied. Maximal production of aflatoxins by the mold in the medium occurred after 9 days at $28^{\circ}C$. When various concentrations of ginseng saponin were added to the medium aflatoxin productions were significantly reduced (p<0.05) compared to the control after 9 days at $28^{\circ}C$. 0.05% of saponin in the medium greatly decreased aflatoxin synthesis, and no aflatoxins were synthesized by the mold in the medium contained 5.0% of saponin. When various concentrations of saponin diol and triol were added to the medium both ingibitory and sitimulatory effects on alfatoxin production were resulted. Saponin fraction numbers of 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 decreased aflatoxin production, however the numbers of 3 and 7 stimulated the toxin production. 0.05% of adenosine, guanosine, caffeine and xanthosine in the media inhibited aflatoxin production (p<0.05), but adenine and cytosine increased the production. When 5.0% of saponin was added to the medium aflatoxins were not synthesized at all, but total lipid synthesis and mold growth were highly stimulated. Both the synthesis of total lipid and mold growth were reduced in case of aflatoxin synthesis stimulated.

• BMB Reports
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 1996

Polyclonal antiserum R101 against aflatoxin $B_1$ ($AFB_1$) was raised in New Zealand white rabbits after injection of bovine serum albumin-$AFB_1$ conjugate. Competitive ELISA (enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assay) demonstrated that antiserum R101 has the highest binding for $AFB_1$ (50% inhibition at 170 fmol) and aflatoxicol II (50% inhibition at 112 fmol). It also reacts with other aflatoxins such as $AFB_2$, $AFG_1$, $AFG_2$, and aflatoxin metabolites ($AFM_1$, $AFM_2$, $AFP_1$, and $AFQ_1$), but it does not cross-react with $AFG_2a$. Using this antiserum, aflatoxins were quantitated in 100 urine samples of undergraduate students at the College of Pharmacy, Sung Kyun Kwan University, Republic of Korea. By ELISA, $AFB_1$ and its metabolites were detected in human urine samples (N=100, male=89, female=11, ages=20~31 yrs) with a range of 1.4~200.6 ng/kg/day (mean$\pm$SD=$18.11{\pm}33.01\;ng\;AFB_1/kg/day$ in males, $3.82{\pm}2.65\;ng/kg/day$ in females). Assuming that urinary excretion is about 7.6% of $AFB_1$ intake (Groopman et al., 1992), we estimated that Koreans were daily exposed to a total dietary $AFB_1$ of $240.20{\pm}438.67\;ng/kg/day$ in males and $50.35{\pm}29.88\;ng/kg/day$ in females, respectively. When the human monitoring data was applied to a linear regression model of Y=21.67X-10.04 {Y=liver cancer incidence per 100,000, X=Log $AFB_1$ intake (ng/kg/day), r=0.99} developed from previously reported epidemiological data, calculated liver cancer incidences attributed to $AFB_1$ exposure were 41.56/100,000 in males and 26.84/100,000 in females. The incidences were similarly correlated with liver cancer mortality rates of 43.43/100,000 in males and 11.23/100,000 in females in Korea. These results suggest that aflatoxin exposure may be an important risk factor for the high incidence of liver cancer in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.38 no.3 s.150
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• pp.205-216
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• 2007

South Korea is the representative consumption country of herbal medicines and most of herbal medicines circulating in Korea have been importing from the developing countries of Southeast Asia such as China, Vietnam, Indonesia and so forth. Domestic hygiene and safety are continuously proposed because herbal medicines which are circulating have the possibility could remain contaminants or residues. Physicochemical contaminants such as heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, radionucleosides, microbial toxins, biological contaminants such as microorganisms and animals, agrochemical residues such as pesticides, substances used for fumigation, antiviral agents, and solvent residues are classified as major contaminants and residues in herbal medicines from 2005 September WHO.$^{1)}$ Currently our administration have established a permission standard and the inspection criteria against the heavy metal, the residual pesticides and a residual sulfur dioxide. Furthermore our administration is continuously monitoring and conducting researches for the policies and their scientific ground against herbal medicines. But the appearances or discoveries of the harmful new species due to environmental and industrial developments are becoming social problems. Therefore it may be necessary to continuously consider and investigate regarding hereupon. Recently, the contamination of the mycotoxins against foods such as cereals, nuts and the powdered red pepper have developed and started became problematic issue, and possibility of contamination against the herbal medicine is proposed. And since populations who are using the herbal medicines very limited to several nations, recognition and researches about contamination of mycotoxins in herbal medicines are very insufficient. Therefore it will be need to more focus on the international regulation of quality control and safety for herbal medicines. Now on, we are going to introduce the importance, occurrence, characteristic properties, World-wide research trends and detoxification of aflatoxins, which is known as the most potent mutagen, carcinogen and teratogen mycotoxins.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.313-317
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• 1998

This study was perfonned to investigate the possible effect of Bacillus subtilis which is the predominant species of bacteria in Korean soy sauce, soy paste, and Meju (soybean cake) on the growth and aflatoxin production of Aspergillus parasiticus ATCC 15517. The microorganisms were grown in a modified APT broth and incubated at $30^{\circ}C$ for 12 days. Aflatoxins were determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A remarkable inhibition of the growth of Aspergillus parasiticus was observed during the incubation period when in the presence of B. subtilis (mixed culture). Dry mycelial weight in the mixed culture was significantly reduced by 85.3% in comparison to the control at the end of the incubation period (p<0.01). Lower levels of aflatoxins were found in the mixed culture than in the monoculture. At the end of the incubation period aflatoxin production was significantly inhibited by more than 50% (p<0.05). These results indicate that B. subtilis mainly inhibites the growth and aflatoxin production of toxigenic Aspergillus in Meju, soy sauce and soy paste. Although its effect on aflatoxin production was less pronounced, we could expect more inhibition by another bacteria related with fermentation in Meju.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.194-200
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• 2016

Aflatoxins and ochratoxin A (AFTs and OTA) are secondary fungal metabolites produced by several moulds, mainly by Aspergillus flavus by Aspergillus ochraceus and Penicillium verrucosum, and these toxins can be transferred to animals and humans through the ingestion of contaminated feed and food. This study was to develop the analytical method for determination the levels of AFTs ($B_1$, $B_2$, $G_1$ and $G_2$) and OTA in pork. The AFTs and OTA were analyzed simultaneously by electrospray ionization in positive ion mode and mass reaction monitoring (MRM) after solid phase extract (SPE) columns clean-up. Performance characteristics, such as accuracy, precision, linear range, limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ), were also determined. Matrix-matched standard calibration was used for quantification, obtaining the recoveries in the range of 67.3~108.2% with the relative standard deviations of < 20%. Limits of detection and quantification were also estimated, obtaining the limits of quantification ranged in $0.7{\sim}1.3{\mu}g/kg$. The results of the inter-day study, which was performed with pork samples for 3 days, showed an accuracy of 92.0~109.9%. The precisions (expressed as relative standard deviation values) for the inter day variation were 2.6~17.8%. The method developed in this study was able to carry out the analysis with the satisfactory intensity and accuracy.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.58 no.7
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• pp.24.1-24.7
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• 2016

Background: Clinoptilolite is a natural zeolite with high adsorption capacity for polar mycotoxins such as aflatoxins. The efficacy of clinoptilolite in ameliorating the toxic effects of aflatoxicosis has been proven in monogastric animals, but there is no such evidence for ruminants. The aim of this study was to evaluate, under field conditions, whether the dietary administration of clinoptilolite in dairy cows could reduce the concentration of aflatoxin M1 ($AFM_1$) in bulk-tank milk, in farms with higher than or close to $0.05{\mu}g/kg$ of milk (European maximum allowed residual level). An objective of the present study was also to investigate the effect of particle size of clinoptilolite on aflatoxin binding. Methods: Fifteen commercial Greek dairy herds with AFM1 concentrations in bulk tank milk ${\geq}0.05{\mu}g/kg$ were selected. Bulk tank milk AFM1 was determined prior to the onset and on day 7 of the experiment. Clinoptilolite was added in the total mixed rations of all farms at the rate of 200 g per animal per day, throughout this period. Two different particle sizes of clinoptilolite were used; less than 0.15 mm in 9 farms (LC group) and less than 0.8 mm in 6 farms (HC group). Results: Clinoptilolite administration significantly reduced $AFM_1$ concentrations in milk in all farms tested at an average rate of 56.2 % (SD: 15.11). The mean milk $AFM_1$ concentration recorded on Day 7 was significantly (P < 0.001) lower compared to that of Day 0 ($0.036{\pm}0.0061$ vs. $0.078{\pm}0.0074{\mu}g/kg$). In LC group farms the reduction of milk $AFM_1$ concentration was significantly higher than HC group farms ($0.046{\pm}0.0074$ vs. $0.036{\pm}0.0061{\mu}g/kg$, P = 0.002). As indicated by the Pearson correlation, there was a significant and strong linear correlation among the milk $AFM_1$ concentrations on Days 0 and 7 (R = 0.95, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Dietary administration of clinoptilolite, especially of smallest particle size, at the rate of 200 g per cow per day can effectively reduce milk $AFM_1$ concentration in dairy cattle and can be used as a preventive measure for the amelioration of the risks associated with the presence of aflatoxins in the milk of dairy cows.